Apparatus for heating of endless filaments, yarns or the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for heating yarns of indefinite continuous length as the yarn advances longitudinally comprises an arc discharge device positioned in the vicinity of the yarn or in contact therewith so that the arc follows the yarn or passes through same. Means may also be provided to moisten the yarn with a conductive fluid before the arc is applied.

United States Patent 1191 Hess [ Feb. 12, 1974 1 APPARATUS FOR HEATINGOF ENDLESS F ILAMENTS, YARNS OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Leodegar Hess,Wattwil,Switzerland [73] Assignee: Heberlein & Co. A.G., Wattwil,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Sept. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 290,849

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 57/157 R, 157 TS, 157 MS;28/61,62; V219/383,V384, 388

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,557,730 10/1925 Smith28/61 X 2,956,393 10/1960 Ubbelohde 57/157 TS 2,993,333 7/1961 Bergh eta1. 28/62 X 3,093,955 6/1963 Cadario 23/62 X 3,343,207 9/1967 Mottern eta]... 28/62 UX 3,400,528 9/1968 Nimtz et a1. 28/61 X 3,483,374 12/1969Erben 219/383 X 3,732,395 5/1963 David 57/34 HS X PrimaryExaminer-Donald E. Watkins Attorney, Agent, or FirmFitzpatrick, Cella,Harper & Scinto ABSTRACT Apparatus for heating yarns of indefinitecontinuous length as the yarn advances longitudinally comprises an arcdischarge device positioned in the vicinity of the yam'br' in contacttherewith so that the arc follows the yarn or passes through same. Meansmay also be provided to moisten the yarn with a conductive fluid beforethe arc is applied.

16 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEBFEBIZ m4 Q 3791; 120

APPARATUS FOR HEATING OF ENDLESS FILAMENTS, YARNS OR THE LIKE Thepresent invention relates to apparatus for the heating of endlessfilaments, yarns or the like, hereinafter referred to as yarns. In knownapparatus of the class described, the yarn is either passed over aheated surface or is heated to the desired temperature by means of hotair or steam. Also such apparatus for heating yarns using infrared,microwaves and high frequency waves have been proposed.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a heatingapparatus for endless yarns which constitute an improvement of the knownsystems particularly as far as technical expenditure and density ofenergy are concerned.

According to the present invention, this problem is primarily resolvedby using an arc discharge for heating a predetermined length of the yarnas the same is advanced longitudinally. According to the presentinvention, the yarn may be passed through a discharge distance or arclength which may or may not extend transversely with respect to thedirection of movement of the yarn. Advantageously, the electrodes may bearranged in pairs at a certain distance from each other in the immediatevicinity of the yarn or in contact therewith so that the arc directlyfollows the yarn over a certain distance, or passes through the same,thus to heat the yarn to a desired temperature. To achieve this, theyarn may first be treated with any conducting material, or it may bemoistened with conductive liquid by a moistening apparatus arranged inadvance of the electrodes. It is also possible to apply textilefinishing agents within the arc.

Preferably, the moistening device may be a fog chamber as this assuresabsolutely regular humidification of the yarn. In a simple way, theliquid may, however, also be applied by a humidified roller, a wick orby capillary tubes; and a regular shape for the arc can be obtained byusing electrodes in the form of rings surrounding the yarn.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important featuresof the invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which thisdisclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designingof other structures for carrying out the several purposes of theinvention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded asincluding such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the specification wherein:

The sole FIGURE of the drawings shows, schematically, a delivery bobbin1 from which the yarn is extracted by over guiding rollers 3 and 4 bymeans of a delivery device 5 in the direction of the arrow.

The electrodes 6 and 7 are supplied with electric current by a highvoltage source 8.

The yarn 2 is moistened by wick 9 of the moistening device 10 so thatthe arc discharge passes along and through the yarn 2 between theelectrodes 6 and 7.

An important application of the apparatus of the present invention isits application in the texturing of yarns of indefinite length as wellas of bundles of filaments consisting of thermoplastic syntheticmaterial, particularly of polyamides and polyesters, by falsetwistingand heat-setting the false-twist. Using an arc discharge distance makespossible intense heat-setting over a relatively short distance, thespace taken by the heating device being thereby substantially reducedwhich is considerably important in false-twist texturing machines havinga great number of treatment stations.

According to a variation of the apparatus of the present invention, thesame may comprise electromagnetic or electronic control means forinterrupting the arc discharge in regular or irregular intervals. Usingthis variation on apparatus for texturing textile yarns, it is possibleto obtain regular or irregular interruption of the heat-settingoperation, whereby so-called fancy textured yarns are obtained.

I believe that the construction and operation of my novel yarn heatingdevice will now be understood, and that its advantages will be fullyappreciated by those persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for heating yarns of indefinite continuous length,characterized by means for advancing the yarn longitudinally, and meansfor providing an arc discharge adjacent the path of the yarn.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arc discharge is providedin advance of false-twist means whereby the yarn is heat-set in twistedcondition.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least onepair of electrodes is arranged immediately adjacent the yarn, that thearc extends in parallel with the yarn.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrodesare so spaced from the yarn that the arc passes lengthwise through theyarn.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that in the distancethrough which the yarn passes, and in advance of the electrodes, meansare provided for moistening the yarn with a conductive liquid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the moisteningmeans is a fog chamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the moisteningmeans is a rotating roller in contact with the yarn and which yields aconductive liquid.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the moisteningdevice comprises a wick transferring the liquid into contact with theyarn.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the moisteningdevice comprises capillaries in contact with the yarn for transferringthe liquid to the yarn.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrodesare in the form of rings through which the yarn is passed.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means forproviding the arc discharge are so arranged that the arc extendstransversely with respect to the yarn movement.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that control meansare provided for interrupting the arc discharge in regular or irregularintervals.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the arc is disposed parallelto and along a length of the advancing yarn.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein the yarn is treated with aconductive fluid before the arc is applied.

1. Apparatus for heating yarns of indefinite continuous length,characterized by means for advancing the yarn longitudinally, and meansfor providing an arc discharge adjacent the path of the yarn. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arc discharge is provided inadvance of false-twist means whereby the yarn is heat-set in twistedcondition.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that atleast one pair of electrodes is arranged immediately adjacent the yarn,that the arc extends in parallel with the yarn.
 4. Apparatus accordingto claim 3, characterized in that the electrodes are so spaced from theyarn that the arc passes lengthwise through the yarn.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 3, characterized in that in the distance throughwhich the yarn passes, and in advance of the electrodes, means areprovided for moistening the yarn with a conductive liquid.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the moistening means is afog chamber.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in thatthe moistening means is a rotating roller in contact with the yarn andwhich yields a conductive liquid.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 5,characterized in that the moistening device comprises a wicktransferring the liquid into contact with the yarn.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the moistening devicecomprises capillaries in contact with the yarn for transferring theliquid to the yarn.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized inthat the electrodes are in the form of rings through which the yarn ispassed.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that themeans for providing the arc discharge are so arranged that the arcextends transversely with respect to the yarn movement.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that control means are providedfor interrupting the arc discharge in regular or irregular intervals.13. Method of heating yarn comprising, advancing yarn longitudinally andstriking an arc in the immediate vicinity of the yarn so as to heat sameby the arc to a desired temperature.
 14. Method according to claim 13,wherein the arc passes transversely of the yarn and the yarn passesthrough the arc.
 15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the arc isdisposed parallel to and along a length of the advancing yarn. 16.Method according to claim 13, wherein the yarn is treated with aconductive fluid before the arc is applied.